re: Finding job after getting fired. How screwed am I?

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Most employers will only give date of hire, date of separation, and rate of pay. Especially big corporate ones. Anything else is asking for a lawsuit.



This is very accurate, especially if you came from a large company

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Not to pick nits, but i dont think companies are legally able to disclose how much they paid you.. Or , it might actually be that they usually wont disclose that info, due to possible liability.. im not saying it’s right, im saying that you can and should EASILY fudge the amount of money you were making at your previous position, b/c odds are that the old company can’t or wont release that info in a screening call to HR….. Im not advocating that you should say in interviews that you made $250k per year when you actually only made $115k- im saying i would put my prior pay at $135k or $140k even if i was pulling down 115k previously, as an example .

I just returned from a workforce development conference. One of the theme was that failing is a good thing if you learn from it. Look up all the interview questions you can find about being fired. Have you someone ask you the questions and ask for honest feedback. Don’t whine, accept responsibility (even if it was your boss that was wrong) and talk about how you grew from the experience.

Good luck.

Try and find a job at a hospital or in a medical center for any kind of PR, HR, Marketing, Acct, Scheduling, Patient Advocate etc.. to hold you over. For a lot of these jobs it doesn’t matter what your degree’s in just as long as you have a degree. Then start applying for a job you want that actually pays you what you want.

When interviewing ask them not to contact your current employer(Hospital) and find a friend from a past job as a reference.

There’s almost always openings at hospitals. They are more into background checks than references. When interviewing make sure you cover any tattoos, because at a lot of medical places it’s policy to have them covered and it doesn’t matter how the interview went you won’t get the job.

The bigger the medical center the better. VA’s are the best. With the VA there are a lot opportunities to work at home. Helping Veterans find jobs is a job most people don’t want but very rewarding. There is high turnover in those types of positions. Sister in law got a job helping veteran felons find jobs for about year before she found a different job. She has a MBA

Most places only give dates of employment when references are checked.

People get fired all the time.

Pick up a couple of worthless certificates from LinkedIn or Coursera to make it look like you are pivoting in your career.

Let everyone know you are looking for work. Keep the fired part to yourself.

It's a hard job market so make a list of what you are willing to do.

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FWIW, I am an auditor who worked for a local firm.

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I’m really worried about how I’ll fare in the job market

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Why? Your field has been understaffed since the abacus

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trying to explain this.

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You won’t have to as long as you remain a warm body through the winter.

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I feel totally worthless

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That’s fair. I have never heard of an auditor being fired for performance. Wtf. Either way, dust yourself off, good luck. Apply to everything including remote.

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My worry is that I am not an attractive person for a job if I come in and state that I got fired or messed up.

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Surely, you had someone at the organization that you got along with. Use them as a reference(s.)

When the topic of why you are no longer working at your old job, just state something like, "I wanted to seek better opportunities."

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I had one higher up that had it out for me due to setting really unrealistic expectations and me not meeting them.

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From a supervisor point of view... this is BS... what the hell is a "unrealistic expectation"???...

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I had one higher up that had it out for me due to setting really unrealistic expectations and me not meeting them. I expressed my concerns from the start and even some other people agreed with me.

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Since you are in public accounting, I assume this means you were given production goals and didn’t meet them? Curious what the goals were and how far off you were, if you don’t mind sharing.

Maybe I’m misunderstanding, but it sounds like you were in industry (internal audit) and now you’re in public (local firm)? We’ve seen staff have a lot of difficulty coming from industry to public because the pace is much harder. You also have to be able to jump from one task to another several times a day. You may want to decide if public is right for you or if you’d rather go back to industry.

ChatGPT:

I'm really sorry you're going through this—getting fired can feel like a huge blow, especially when the circumstances feel unfair. It’s important to remember that being let go doesn’t define your value or capability. Here's some practical advice for how to approach this situation:

1. **Give Yourself Time**: It’s natural to feel shaken and uncertain, but give yourself some time to process this before you jump into job hunting. That mental reset will help you present yourself more confidently later.

2. **Control the Narrative**: In interviews, how you frame your experience is crucial. You don't need to go into details about the difficult dynamics. Instead, you can say something like, "The company’s goals and my approach to achieving them didn’t align, and I felt that it was time to find an organization where my skills and perspectives were a better fit." This puts you in control of the story.

3. **Leverage Your Strengths**: Focus on your accomplishments during those two years and previous positions. Did you make processes more efficient? Did you help identify key risks? Highlight your contributions, not the circumstances around your exit.

4. **Network**: Reach out to peers, mentors, and other contacts in your industry. Internal auditing is a field where trust and relationships matter. They may help you find leads or provide recommendations, which can offset any negativity around your firing.

5. **Address Gaps Professionally**: If potential employers ask, don’t bash your old firm. You can acknowledge the misalignment without delving into negativity. Focus on what you’ve learned and how you plan to grow from it.

6. **Develop Your Skills**: Consider picking up any certifications or skills that could enhance your resume. This will help boost your confidence and make you more competitive. For instance, expanding your internal audit expertise with IT or risk management certifications can broaden your appeal.

7. **Consider a Career Coach**: If you're unsure how to navigate this situation or how to present yourself in the best light, a career coach can help refine your job-hunting strategy, resume, and interview techniques.

You're far from worthless, and this situation doesn’t dictate your future. With a clear strategy and focus on your strengths, you’ll find your footing again. Keep pushing forward.